Device of support for parachutes



Feb. 15, 1938. Y Y s.. o. c. KUHLEMANN 2,103,716

' I DEVICE OF SUPPORT FOR PARACHUTES Filed Feb. 20, 1937 3 Sheet" SSheet i ,zin/elz'far' Feb. 15, 1 938. s. o. c. KUHLEMANN DEVICE 0FSUPPORT FOR PARACHUTES .Filed Feb. 20, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedFeb. 15, 1938 PATENT ()FFEQE DEVICE OF SUPPORT FOR PARACHUTES Stig OveChristian Kuhlemann,

Stockholm,

Sweden, assignor to Carl H. Lundholm, Aktiebolag, Stockholm,

Sweden Sweden,

Application February 20, 1937, Serial No. 126,860 .In Sweden April 1,1936 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a device of support for parachutes,preferably of the harness type and fitted with a central locking deviceas well as two other locking devices called side locking devices, whichlatter are controlled by the former.

In the United States patent applications Serial Nos. 96,282 and 99,802,a device of support of this type is disclosed in which the centrallocking device consists of one main portion, which is indivisible whenbeing releasably actuated. Upon the release of the said locking device,the body encircling strap and/or shoulder straps comprised in the deviceof support are altogether freed from their engagement in the saidlocking device. Further the so-called leg straps are permanentlyconnected with the central locking device either directly or throughother straps.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a. device ofsupport for parachutes of the type described, but with a central lockingdevice of novel design reducing or eliminating the risk of the saidlocking device being damaged by striking against the ground, after ithas been released.

Another-object of my invention is to provide a device of support of thetype described in which the upper ends of the leg straps, upon therelease of the central locking device, are freed from any connectionwith any other part of the device of support.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a parachute harnessequally comfortable as the standard parachute harness adopted by theUnited States Air Corps in 1924, but with the additional facility ofrelease by a single manoeuvre by the parachutist.

These and other objects will be apparent according as the followingdescription proceeds. reference being had to the accompanying drawingsshowing by way of example an embodiment of the new device of support.

In the drawings v Fig. 1 is a total view of the device of support.

Fig. 2 is a general view of the central locking device the inner membersthereof being laid bare, and the movable members being shown both in alocked and a released position.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the central locking device.

Fig. 4 is a view of a locking device for the leg straps a side lockingdevice with the inner members thereof being laid bare.

According to Fig. 1 reference numerals III, II designate suspensionstraps leading to the para- (Cl. 24415l) chute. l 2 is a strap passingacross the left shoulder of the wearer and i3 a corresponding strappassing across his right shoulder. l4 and 15 are leg straps which, withtheir lower ends, are permanently fixed to the seat portion of thedevice of support and, with their upper ends detachably secured to theside locking devices. i6 and I! are left and right portions of theso-called waist strap. l8 and i9 are straps permanently secured to thecentral locking device with their upper ends for the mounting oftransmission wires from the central locking device to the side lockingdevices, said wires being preferably enclosed in tubes or the like. Thefastening points of the lower ends of the straps l8 and I 9 to the lowerportion of the suspension straps i and ii are designated by 20 and 2|.22 and 23 are the left hand and right hand main portions of the centrallocking device. 24 and 25 designate the left and right side lockingdevices. 26 and 2'! are fittings in the central locking device for thefastening of the shoulder straps. 28 and 29 are similar fittings in thecentral locking device for the fastening of the straps l8 and I9. 30 and3! are fastening devices (snap hooks) on the leg straps for engagementin the side locking devices 24 and 25. 32 and 33 are adjustable bucklesfor regulating the harness. 34 is the main fastening member for joiningthe two main portions of the central locking device. 35 and 36 designateadjustable buckles on the leg straps. 31 and 38 are similar buckles onthe shoulder straps. 39 and M! are wires transmitting the power from thecentral locking device to the side locking devices. ll and 42 are pawlsin the side locking devices 2t and 25 serving to engage the fasteningdevices 30 and 3|. 43 and M designate the points where the waist strapends 16 and H are fastened to the suspension straps l0 and H. 45 is thepoint of junction between the shoulder straps i2 and I3.

In the central locking device shown in Figs. 2 and 3, 46 and 411designate claws releasably holding the member 34 in a locked position ofthe device. 48 and t9 are recesses on the member 34 for engagement ofthe claws 46 and 4". bolt connecting the claws 46 and 41. is a peg oftriangular shape which, upon being turned,

brings the claws 46 and 41 wider apart from each other thereby freeingthe member 34 from its engagement with the said claws. 52 and 53 aretracks in the claws 46 and 4'! for pivots 54 and 55 in the peg 5!. 56 isan extension on the peg 5i for actuating the lever 51. 58 desigina'tes alink for transmitting the power from the lever 51 (in a lifted position51 to a lifting member 59, which constitutes the fastening point for thetransmitting wire 4!). Si is a spring for holding the lever 51 in lifted(released) position. 62 is a hook on spring SI for engaging lever 51when lifted. 63 is a button, which, when pressed down, releases thelever 51 from its engagement with the hook 62. 64 is a link connectingthe claw 46 with the lifting member 85, to which the transmission wire39 is fixed. 86 is a. spring for holding the claw 41 in locked position(the claw 46 is held in locked position by the spring 94 in the sidelocking device 24). 61 is a peg for fixing the spring I4, which servesto secure the handle I3 in position. 68 is an additional peg forsecuring the connection between the two main portions. 89 is a squarebolt for the fastening of the handle I3. 18 and II are bolts to securethe liftin members 65 and 59 in position. 12 is a bolt to secure thelever 51 in position. 15 is a bolt to secure the spring ,14 in position.I8 is the outer cover for the left main portion 22 (edges bent over toincrease the strength). 11 is an inner segment of the left main portion22. 18 is an inner segment of the right main portion 23. I3 is a peg inthe handle 13 to secure same in locked position. is a peg for the handle13 in the bolt 69. 8| is an outer cover for the right main portion(edges bent over). 82 are rivet holes in the segment 11 for fasteningthe cover 18.

In Fig. 4, 83 shows a plate on which the side locking device is mountedfor fastening the strap I9. 84 are sewing holes. 85 is a plate forfastening the suspension strap I0. 86 is an opening in the segmentforthe insertion of the transmission wire 39. 81 is a bolt to secure thepawl 42 in position. 88 is an inner segment. 89 are rivet holes forfastening the outer cover. a hole in the pawl 42 for the fixing of thetransmission wire 39. Si is an ear on the pawl 42 for the spring 94. peg93. 96 is a jack for the steering peg 93 and the spring 94. 91 is a holein the jack 96 for the steering peg 93. 98 is an opening for insertingthe snap hook 30. 99 are sewing threads on fitting 83.

The function of the new device of support is as follows:

When the harness is to be put on, the wearer first puts his arms throughthe loops formed by the shoulder straps in about the same manner as awaist coat is put on. The main portions 22 and 23 of. the centrallocking device are then joined by inserting the protruding member 34into the middle of the space between the two outer covers of the mainportion 23. On account of the tapering shape of the member 34, the claws48 and 4'! are thereby moved further apart, and after the member 34 hasbeen inserted as far as possible, the claws 46 and-41, through theinfluence of the spring 86 as well as the spring 94 in the side lockingdevice 24 are brought into engagement with the recesses of the saidclaws. The handle 13 is then laid down and secured in position by thespring 14 and the peg 19. The two main portions are further secured toeach other by the peg .68. The seat portion of the harness is thenplaced in position, the leg straps l4 and i5 are carried upwards frombetween the legs of the wearer and connected with the side lockingdevices 24 and 25. ness may beadjusted through the buckles l8, Ii, 32,33, 35, 39.

If the wearer wishes to get free from the barness, he first pulls thehandle 13 upwards, after it has been released from the engagement of the92 is a support for the steering If necessary, the harspring 14. Thehandle '13 is then turned downwards, causing the claws 46 and 41 to bemoved further apart through the action of the triangular peg 5|. Themembers 59 and,85 are then carried upwards through the lever devicesdescribed above, the upward movement being transmitted throughthetransmission wires 39 and 40 to the side locking devices 24 and 25. Thepawls 4| and 42 in the said devices are carried aside, thereby releasingthe snap hooks 38 and 3|, whereby the leg straps l4 and I5 arefreed attheir upper ends. Immediately afterwards, the claws 46 and 41 arecarried so far apart as to cause the connecting member 34 to bealtogether free from its engagement with the main portion 23. Theintermediate connection between the shoulder straps l2 and I3 and thestraps l8 and I9 via the central locking device then ceases, and thewearer can free himself from the device of support in the usual manner.

As described above, it is necessary that the side locking devices arereleased shortly before the two main portions are separated, becauseafter 'the said separation has been effected, it is impossible toactuate the side release devices through the central locking device.

A number of variations within the scope of the invention are possible.Thus the device of support, instead of being 01' the harness typecomprising shoulder straps connected with suspension straps as well asseat straps, can be of the so called life belt type, which consists of abroad waist strap and generally one strap across the oneshoulder, thesuspension strap being fixed atthe back of the waist strap. Furtheriheinvention can be applied to such harness, in which the suspension strapsextend directly into the central locking device, thus without thebranches, [2, l3 shown on Fig. 1.

Further the constructional design of the central locking device mayvary. The connection between the two main parts can thus be effected bylocking pistons engaging into openings of hollow devices.

Having now described the invention and the manner in which itis'performed, what I claim is:-

1. In a parachute supporting device,'the combination of a bodyencircling strap having at least one of its ends for placement at thefront of the wearer, a pair of leg straps,.a separate locking devicereleasably connecting each of said leg straps to partof the supportingdevice so as to hold said 'leg straps in taut lateral position, afastening device releasably fastening the end of the body encirclingstrap which is placed at the front of the wearer, said fastening devicecomprising two interconnectable main parts, and

means to unlock said main parts comprising flexible means extending fromsaid main parts to said leg strap locking devices whereby first the legstrap locking devices are released and then the main parts of the deviceare separated so as to release the end of the body encircling strap andthereby to permit the wearer to free himself from the supporting device.

2. In a parachute supporting device, the combination of a bodyencircling strap having at least one of its ends for placement at .thefront of the wearer, a pair of leg straps, a separate locking devicereleasably connecting each of said leg straps to partof the supportingdevice so as to hold said leg straps in taut lateral position, afastening device releasably fastening the end of the body encirclingstrap which is placed at the (ill nicer/re at front of the wearer, saidfastening device comprising two interconnectahle main pans, twoadditional straps each connecting one of said leg strap locking devicesto one of said main parts, means independent of said additional strapsto control the release of said leg strap locking de-= vices, and meansto unlock said main parts whereby the leg strap holding devices arereleased and the main parts of the device are separated so as to permitthe wearer to free himself from the supporting device.

3. In a parachute supporting device, the comhination of a bodyencircling strap having at least one of its ends for placement at thefront of the wearer, a pair of leg straps, a separate locking devicereleasably connecting the upper end of each of said leg straps in tautlateral position, a fastening device releasably fastening the end of thebody encircling strap which is placed at the front of the wearer, saidfastening device comprising two interconnectahle 11 parts includingmeans connected to said leg strap locking devices, and a memberpermanently secured to one of said parts and adapted to engage the otherpart and adapted to control the release of said leg strap lockingdevices independently of said body strap, and means to disengage saidmember whereby first the upper ends of the leg straps are released, andthen the main parts of the fastening device are separated, so as torelease the end of the body encircling strap-and thereby to permit thewearer to free himself from the supporting device.

a. In a parachute supporting device, the comhination of abody encirclingstrap having at least one of its ends for placement at the front of thewearer, a pair of leg straps, a separate locking device releasablyconnecting each of said leg straps to part of the supporting device soas to hold said leg straps in taut lateral position, a fastening devicereleasably fastening the end of the body encircling strap which isplaced at the front of the wearer, said fastening device comprising twointerconnectahle main parts including means connected to said leg straplocklng devices adapted to control the release of said leg strap lockingdevices, one of said parts having a claw adapted to engage a recessin-the other part, and means to release said claw from engagement withsaid recess whereby the leg strap locmng devices are released and themain parts of the fastening device are separated so as to permit thewearer to free himself from the supporting device. a

5. In a parachute supporting device, the comhination of a bodyencircling strap having at least one of its ends for placement at thefront of the wearer, a pair of leg straps, a separate locking devicereleasably connecting each of said leg straps to part of the supportingdevice so as to hold said leg straps in taut lateral position, a

member to release each of. said leg strap locking devices, a fasteningdevice releasably fastening the end of the body encircling strap whichis placed at the front of the wearer and comprising two interconnectablemain parts, two additional straps each connecting one of said main partsto part of the supporting device, a wire mounted on each of saidadditional straps and connecting the appurtenant main part to one ofsaid releasing members of the leg strap locking devices, and means tounlock said main parts whereby first the wires are actuated to releasethe leg strap locking devices and then the main parts of the fasteningdevice are separated so as to permit the wearer to free himself from thesupporting device 6. In a parachute supporting device, the combinationof a body encircling strap having at least one of its ends for placementat the front of the wearer, a pair of leg straps, a separate lockingdevice releasably connecting each of said leg straps to part-of thesupporting device so as to hold said leg straps in taut lateralposition, a fastening device releasably fastening the end of the bodyencircling strapv which is placed at the front of the wearer andcomprising two interconnectable main parts and each of said leg straplocking devices comprising a movable spring actuated pawl, two wireseach adapted to connect one of said pawls to the fastening device tocontrol the release of the leg strap locking devices, and means tounlockthe main parts of the fastening device whereby first the wires areactuated to displace the pawls to release the leg strap locking devices,and then the main parts of the device are separated so as to permit thewearer to free himself from the supporting device.

7. In a parachute supportingdevice, the combination of a body encirclingstrap having at least one of its ends for placement at the front of thewearer, a pair of leg straps, a separate locking device releasablyconnecting each of said leg straps to part of the supporting device soas to hold said leg straps in taut lateral position, a fastening devicereleasably fastening the end of the body encircling strap which isplaced at the front of the wearer and adapted to control the release ofsaid leg strap locking devices, said fastening device comprising twointerconnectahle main parts and a leverage, two wires each adapted toconnect said fastening device to one of. said leg strap locking devicesto control the release of the latter, and turnable means to unloclr saidfastening device whereby first a pull is exerted by said leverage on thewires so as to cause release of the leg strap locking devices and themain parts of the device are separated so as to permit the wearer tofree himself from thesupporting device. l

STIG OVE crs'rrau RUM.

